The 2022 season for LSU was filled with a lot of ups and downs. The Tigers had to navigate through slow starts in order to come out with a victory to lead them to 10-win season, a feat that many LSU fans would have taken given the preseason expectations. We look back on the great moments from this season and begin the countdown of the Top 5 LSU Games of the 2022 Season. Here is No. 5 on the list, beginning with LSU’s SEC home opener against Mississippi State:
LSU Goes Down Early to Mississippi State:
LSU was heading into their second home game in a row after drubbing Southern at home the previous week, 65-17. It would be Brian Kelly’s first taste of what competing in the SEC West was going to be like. The theme of the 2022 season for the Tigers was getting down early in games in the conference. This was true in week three against Mississippi State.
Mississippi State was heading into this matchup 2-0 after opening the season with wins over Memphis and Arizona. LSU would get the honors of getting the ball first to kickoff their SEC conference slate. The Tigers would drive into Mississippi State territory on their first offensive possession, but they were forced to punt after a false start penalty set them back behind the chains.
The Bulldogs would waste no time in getting on the board first as they were able to cash in on a 37-yard touchdown run by Jo’quavois Marks to take the early 7-0 lead with 7:30 left in the 1st quarter. Mississippi State’s defense would continue to stand tall against LSU as the Tigers were forced to a three-and-out.
Mississippi State wouldn’t be able to add to their lead on their next drive as the Bulldogs were going to be aggressive and go for it on fourth down. They were unable to convert from LSU’s 40-yard line and that set up the Tigers with prime field position.
Both offenses struggled to find an answer from what the defenses were handing them until Mississippi State found the endzone again to extend their lead. Will Rogers found Rara Thomas for a 13-yard touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 13-0 lead with 2:14 left in the second quarter.
LSU would answer on the next drive to close out the half with a touchdown drive of their own as Jaray Jenkins hauled in a eight-yard touchdown from Jayden Daniels to cut into Mississippi State lead to six. The Bulldogs would carry a 13-7 lead into the half and the Tigers carried some momentum into the locker room.
LSU Seizes Momentum Off Of A Bulldog Turnover:
Mississippi State would be forced to punt on their first offensive possession coming out of the break and the Tigers were able to cut into the lead even more with a 35-yard field goal by Damian Ramos. The Bulldogs would get a field goal of their next on the next drive to put them back up by six with 6:31 left in the third quarter.
Mississippi State would have control a 16-10 lead halfway through the third quarter. Both offenses would stall on their fourth down conversions on their next offensive possessions as both defenses continued to rise to the occasion. The Tiger offense would be forced to punt and that’s when the game would turn in favor of the purple and gold.
Austin Williams was back to return for the Bulldogs, but disaster struck for Mississippi State as Williams fumbled the ball. It would be recovered by Slade Roy and LSU was set up inside the 10-yard line. The Tigers would waste no time in taking advantage of the turnover as the Tigers would strike. Jayden Daniels ran it in for a three-yard touchdown to give LSU it’s first lead of the game, 17-16, at the start of the fourth quarter.
LSU’s defense continued to shut down the Bulldogs offense as they were forced to a three-and-out. The Tigers would extend their lead after they went on a 14-play, 85-yard drive that put them up 24-16 with 6:53 to play. Josh Williams would run it in for a seven-yard touchdown.
Mississippi State was unable to answer and the game was put away on the Tigers next offensive possession as Armoni Goodwin broke off for a 47-yard run to give LSU the 31-16 lead with 4:50 to go. All of the momentum was with LSU and they were able to seal their first SEC win of the season as Jay Ward picked off Will Rogers. The Tigers were down by 13 early on in this game, but the defense was able to shut down the Bulldogs offense to set up for what was the first of many comebacks this season.
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